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Monday, August 3, 2015

My hubby's job requires that he flies around the world frequently to manage projects for theme parks. He gets aches and pains from being crammed into an airplane. He has an impossible time finding healthy food. anywhere that isn't made with fish, animals, or flavors he doesn't eat. He often arrived home feeling worn out, unhealthy, and in pain. We came up with some snacks and other travel essentials that he could take to feel healthier on the road and you know what? It worked!

This is a list of foods, and travel essentials that we use as a rule of thumb for my husband, give or take a few items depending where he is going, for how long, etc.

I'm very likely to take a suitcase full of food to a location then fill it up with souvenirs, especially on a longer trip with the family, but for my husband, we try to get a few basic things. I call these the Travel Essentials for Grown-ups:

1. Applesauce Pouches

Baby food type vacuum sealed pouches are perfect for a healthy dose of fruit and fiber either between meals or part of a frugal and healthy breakfast. I recommend sticking to the organic ones if you can find them to avoid a few chemicals. They come in so many flavors, for adults, for kids, at big box stores and they are super easy to pack, too.

2. Peanut butter, jelly, and crackers

Many hotels have a fridge where you can store your jelly once it's opened or put it with some ice in the ice bucket. You can have a filling PB&J as a breakfast, snack, or even a dinner at your hotel that will remind you of home. For me? I go with a seedy, hearty crispbread for added nutrition, but a nice organic wheat or gluten-free cracker will be just as good. You can even pack a little knife and plate.

3. Cereal and shelf stable milk

I actually do this! My husband gave me a hard time the first time I packed bowls, spoons, organic soy milk, and low sugar, healthy cereal, but he was thanking me when we were the first ones into the park on a Disney vacation and he didn't have to take a second mortgage to pay the credit card bill. If you check bags, un-pack your favorite cereal breakfast once you check-in, drink an applesauce pouch and you're ready to go!

4. F.A.S.T. Liquid Relief™ or OTC Meds from Home

I can't tell you how many times my husband has gotten sick in some foreign country. I recommend bringing your basic OTC pain medication from home. This way it is in YOUR language and you understand your dosage.

This time he is packing F.A.S.T. Liquid Relief™ - First Aid Shot Therapy for Pain is a single-dose liquid medication that fits in his backpack, is easy to consume, and works quickly. It is FDA-compliant It eliminates the need to search for pills and purchase bottled water to wash them down. F.A.S.T also has shots for cold, pain, heartburn, and hangover. They work up to five times more quickly than aspirin because liquid absorbs faster into the bloodstream.

5. Empty Re-usable Water Bottle(s)

Plastic water bottles should be reserved for situations where you don't have a choice. If you are going to be somewhere where there is access to fresh water, bring a re-usable bottle to help cut down on waste. You can also purchase a gallon or so of water to keep filling your bottle.

6. A Reminder to Eat Your Veggies!

Although you can pretty much survive with the little kit I put together, I like to include some type of reminder, verbal, non-verbal, a note, text, PM to eat your veggies. It is so easy to forget this step when you are catching planes, trains, and taxis, but this reminder has made my husband come home mysteriously... healthy!

With these travel survival essentials, my husband is ready to fly the friendly skies. Although nobody blending a smoothie for him or prepping veggies so he can craft one of his signature stir frys. He is used to eating healthy, organic, vegetarian food at home. Why not try to eat that way when he travels?!

I actually have a water bottle with a filter on it that I use when traveling so that I don't have to worry about where I fill my bottle. I am a vegan so I always travel with Lara bars, Luna bars, or other types of bars to either eat for breakfast or as a filling snack. I also bring my own almond milk when I can (I only use carry-on baggage, so if I am flying I do not bring it with me). The only other thing I would suggest, even for adults traveling without children, is baby wipes! You can use them for cleaning your hands and to help you freshen up on long flights.